Process for producing polycrystalline silicon

ABSTRACT

Polycrystalline silicon is produced in a chemical vapour deposition reactor, wherein, outside the reactor at at least one position on at least one reactor component, vibrations of the reactor are measured using a measurement device and optionally recorded. The vibrations may be used to identify rod fall over and other events occurring within the reactor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional Application to U.S. Application SerialNo. 17/294,772, filed May 18, 2021, which is the U.S. National Phase ofPCT Appln. No. PCT/EP2018/085306 filed Dec. 17, 2018, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for producing polycrystalline siliconin a chemical vapour deposition reactor, wherein, outside the reactor atat least one position in at least one reactor component, vibrations ofthe reactor are measured using a measurement device and optionallyrecorded. The invention further provides a reactor, in particular forcarrying out the method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) serves as a starting material inthe production of monocrystalline silicon, for example by means ofcrucible pulling (Czochralski process) or by means of zone melting(float zone process). The monocrystalline silicon can be sawn intoslices (wafers) and after a multiplicity of further processing steps canbe used in the semiconductor industry for the manufacture of electroniccomponents (chips). Polysilicon is also a starting material in theproduction of multicrystalline silicon, for example by means of theblock casting process. The multicrystalline silicon, obtained in theform of a block, can be used for the manufacture of solar cells.

Polysilicon can be obtained by the Siemens process - a chemical vapourdeposition process. This involves heating support bodies (usuallycomposed of polysilicon) in a bell-shaped reactor (Siemens reactor) byway of the direct passage of current and introducing a reaction gascomprising a silicon-containing component and hydrogen. Thesilicon-containing component is generally monosilane (SiH₄) or ahalosilane of the general composition SiH_(n)X_(4-n) (n = 0, 1, 2, 3; X= Cl, Br, I). It is typically a chlorosilane or a chlorosilane mixture,usually trichlorosilane (SiHCl₃, TCS). Predominantly, SiH₄ or SiHCl₃ isused in a mixture with hydrogen. The structure of a typical Siemensreactor is described by way of example in EP 2 077 252 A2 or EP 2 444373 A1. The bottom of the reactor (bottom plate) is generally providedwith electrodes that accommodate the support bodies. The support bodiesare customarily thin filament rods (thin rods) made of silicon.Typically, two filament rods are connected via a bridge (made ofsilicon) to form a pair that forms a circuit via the electrodes. Thesurface temperature of the filament rods is typically more than 1000° C.At these temperatures, the silicon-containing component of the reactiongas decomposes and elemental silicon is deposited from the vapour phaseas polysilicon. The diameter of the filament rods and of the bridgeincreases as a result. After reaching a predetermined diameter of therods, the deposition is usually stopped and the polysilicon rodsobtained are removed. After the removal of the bridge, approximatelycylindrical silicon rods are obtained.

The growing polysilicon rods, which become increasingly heavy during thecourse of the method, are held only by the electrodes (usually incombination with an electrode holder). Depending on the target diameter(usually 90 to 190 mm) and length of the filament rods (generallybetween 1.5 and 3.5 m), rod weights of 50 to 400 kg (per rod and withoutbridge) may be reached. A support body made of two rods and a bridge cantherefore weigh almost one metric ton in modern reactors. In principle,longer filament rods in combination with larger target diametersincrease the yield per batch and hence generally also the economicviability of the deposition process. However, the risk of the supportbodies falling over also increases.

Since, by way of example, 24 support bodies (48 rods) can nowadays bearranged in deposition reactors, just one support body falling over cantrigger a “domino effect.” This can cause considerable economic losses,especially if the reactor walls are damaged. The silicon rods that havefallen over are generally also contaminated, and after removal the batchhas to be subjected to an additional cleaning step and/or assigned to alower quality class.

A further problem is the time-consuming and dangerous removal of batcheswhich contain support bodies that have fallen over. Firstly, it cannotalways be identified prior to the removal whether there are any supportbodies present that have fallen over, which presents a considerable riskwhen lifting off the reactor bell jar (reactor shell). Secondly, therecovery of the silicon rods that have fallen over, and are possiblybroken, is associated with considerable apparatus and time demands,since additional contamination is to be avoided. Cleaning of thereactor, especially the removal of silicon splinters, requiresadditional hours of labour. Overall, the downtime of a depositionreactor therefore increases if support bodies fall over.

These problems gave rise to the object of the invention, specificallythat of providing a method with which firstly the downtime of depositionreactors having batches that have fallen over can be shortened, and withwhich secondly the risk during removal can be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by a method for producingpolysilicon, comprising introducing a reaction gas containing hydrogenand silane and/or halosilane into a reaction space of a chemical vapourdeposition reactor, wherein the reaction space comprises at least oneheated support body on which elemental silicon is deposited by means ofchemical vapour deposition to form the polysilicon. At the same time,outside the reaction space at at least one position of at least onereactor component, vibrations of the reactor are measured using ameasurement device and optionally recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a reactor according to the invention and

FIG. 2 shows a frequency spectrum recorded during the deposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The chemical vapour deposition reactor is especially a Siemens reactoras has been described above. Accordingly, the support body preferablycomprises two filament rods which are made of silicon, are connected viaa bridge made of silicon to form a rod pair, and thus have approximatelythe form of an upturned “U”. The free ends of the filament rods areconnected to electrodes of a bottom plate of the reactor. The number ofsilicon rods/silicon rod pairs arranged in the reactor is generallyunimportant for the execution of the method according to the invention.Typical examples of the number of silicon rods in a reactor are 24 (12rod pairs), 36 (18 rod pairs), 48 (24 rod pairs), 54 (27 rod pairs), 72(36 rod pairs) or 96 (48 rod pairs). The silicon rods can be consideredto be cylindrical as a good approximation. This approximation isjustified as modern Siemens reactors are designed in principle forensuring maximum homogeneity of deposition, that is to say forgenerating silicon rods of identical quality and form. This is achievedin particular by way of a homogeneous gas flow within the reactor and byway of an essentially symmetrical arrangement of the rods. The filamentrods may likewise be configured cylindrically, but other geometries arealso possible.

It has been found that irregularities in the course of the depositionprocess can be detected outside of the reactor by means ofsound/vibration measurements. Such irregularities can in particular beevents of support bodies falling over. A falling-over event may beeither an instance of complete falling over of a support body onto thereactor bottom, or else a leaning of a support body against anothersupport body or against an inner reactor wall. The leaning of onesupport body against another one can often trigger an entire cascade offurther falling-over events (domino effect). The irregularities may inaddition also be a flaking off of silicon pieces or a breaking off ofthe bridge. All events that trigger mechanical vibrations are consideredin principle.

The vibration measurement makes it possible to detect theseirregularities immediately after they have arisen. In particular, usingthe intensity and the duration of the measured signal, the nature of theirregularities can be identified. For example, a distinction can be madebetween a support body which has fallen over and one which is leaning.As a consequence of this early detection, measures can be immediatelytaken or introduced. By way of example, the gas velocity can be adaptedto the new situation. The deposition process can also be stopped and itis possible to immediately start with making preparations for removingthe support bodies which have fallen over, which not only shortens thedowntime of the reactor but also reduces the risk for personnel to aminimum when raising the reactor bell jar.

The vibrations to be measured can be the structure-borne sound of thereactor component. Structure-borne sound is mechanical vibration thatpropagates in the reactor component (solid body) and lead to anacceleration of the surface of the component. The measurement istherefore fundamentally effected in contact with the surface of thecomponent. Preferably, contact microphones, microphones forstructure-borne sound and/or pick-ups for structure-borne sound (soundpick-ups), which can be combined under the generic term “accelerationsensors”, are used for the measurement. Acceleration sensors generallyuse the piezoelectric effect in order to convert the acceleration intoelectrical signals.

The vibrations to be measured can also be airborne sound that is emittedby a vibrating reactor component. Accordingly, the measurement can beeffected using microphones which convert the airborne sound intoelectrical signals. In general, the measurement is effected here in theimmediate vicinity of the reactor component (e.g. 0.5 to 10 cm in frontof it) in order to be able to better exclude (or filter out) backgroundnoises that are in principle unavoidable in a reactor hall.

The measurement device accordingly preferably comprises at least oneacceleration sensor and/or at least one microphone. The structure-bornesound measurement and the airborne sound measurement are particularlypreferably combined. The airborne sound and the structure-borne soundare thus preferably measured at one or more positions in a reactorcomponent. A plurality of reactor components can also be equipped withthe measurement device.

The reactor component on which the vibration is measured is preferablyselected from the group comprising reactor shell, bottom plate, conduitfor gas supply, conduit for gas removal and electrode holder. This maygenerally be any reactor component on which a measurement device ismountable from the outside. A deposition reactor according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and will be described below.

The measurement device can also comprise a recording system. Inparticular, this is a piece of software which graphically depicts thesound converted into electrical signals and optionally records it over aperiod of time.

The measurement device is preferably coupled to a process controlstation. The coupling is effected in particular via the recordingsystem. The recording system may optionally already be integrated intothe process control station. By means of such a coupling, action can betaken directly upon the occurrence of a measurement signal. By way ofexample, it can initially be checked through a viewing window in thereactor shell whether a falling-over event has occurred.

The vibrations are preferably measured and recorded up until thecompletion of the deposition, especially up until opening of the reactor(generally by raising the reactor shell). The start of the recording ispreferably when the reactor has been closed after installation of thesupport bodies, that is to say the reactor shell has been lowered ontothe bottom plate of the reactor. In this way, irregularities can bedetected throughout the deposition operations and optionally action canimmediately be taken.

The result of recording the sound over the entire process duration is asound or frequency spectrum of the deposition process or of the reactor.Sound spectra of this kind open up the possibility of comparingdifferent deposition processes in order, for example, to identifyrepeating patterns that are indicative of the falling-over event evenbefore it has actually happened. In this way, an instance of a supportbody falling over can potentially even still be avoided.

In the case of a threshold value of the measured vibrations beingexceeded, the deposition can be interrupted or ended. When such a valueis exceeded, an alarm signal can also initially be triggered. By way ofexample, a threshold value may be defined which is indicative of anextreme falling-over event (e.g. an instance of multiple support bodiesfalling over). Continuing the deposition in such a case is usuallyuneconomical, especially on account of the contamination of thepolysilicon caused by the falling over.

In particular, it is possible by means of the duration and intensity ofthe measured vibrations to distinguish between one or more supportbodies falling over. This can be effected, for example, by way of acomparison with reference measurements.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a chemical vapourdeposition reactor, especially Siemens reactor, for the deposition ofpolysilicon, comprising, as reactor components, a base plate, a reactorshell arranged on the base plate, at least one conduit for gas supply,at least one conduit for gas removal, and electrode holders for at leastone heatable support body on which the polysilicon is deposited. Thereactor additionally comprises at least one measurement device fordetermining vibrations, which is mounted on one or more of the reactorcomponents.

The reactor is especially suitable for carrying out the method accordingto the invention.

Reference can be made to the statements above with regard to theconfiguration of the measurement device.

FIG. 1 shows a chemical vapour deposition reactor 1 which comprises areactor shell 2 arranged on a metallic bottom plate 3. The reactor shell2 is usually likewise made of metal and water-cooled. The bottom plate 3can also be cooled. Viewing windows 6 are integrated into the reactorshell 2 at the upper end and at the side, and enable a view into thereaction space and onto the support bodies arranged therein. A conduit 4for gas supply and a conduit 5 for gas removal are indicated beneath thebottom plate 3. Conduit 4 is usually a constituent part of a gasdistributor connected to a plurality of gas inlet nozzles in theinterior of the reactor. An electrode holder 8 which is connected to thepower supply 9 is also indicated. The electrode holder 8 is guidedthrough the bottom plate 3 and connected to a filament rod of a supportbody. For reasons of clarity, the illustration of further electrodeholders has been dispensed with. Acceleration sensors 7 are mounted onthe reactor shell 2, the bottom plate 3 and the conduit 5 and relaytheir data to a recording system.

EXAMPLE

FIG. 2 shows the excerpt from a frequency spectrum that was measuredusing an acceleration sensor (from PCB, triaxial accelerometer, 100mV/g, ICP®(IEPE), 2 Hz-5 kHz) during a deposition process for theproduction of polysilicon. The vibration intensity (intens.) has in thiscase been plotted against the duration of the deposition (t). Theintensity of the vibration is usually given in [m/s] and/or [m/s²] in anacceleration sensor. In the present case, however, the value has beennormalized in order to obtain a dimensionless measure for the intensity.The sensor was installed on the bottom plate.

The excerpt of the spectrum starts approximately 1 hour after the startof deposition and at first shows around 20 minutes before the detectionof the two peaks at the right-hand end. The first peak, which issomewhat broader and more intense than the following one, is a leaningevent that is directly followed by a falling over. This could beconfirmed by visual inspection. Only a few minutes after this, leaningof one support body against another one occurred, which was likewiseconfirmed by visual inspection.

The example confirms that falling-over events, in particular, can beidentified within a deposition reactor by means of a frequency spectrum.It is also possible to distinguish between different events.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Polycrystalline silicon is produced in a chemicalvapour deposition reactor, wherein, outside the reactor at at least oneposition on at least one reactor component, vibrations of the reactorare measured using a measurement device and optionally recorded. Thevibrations may be used to identify rod fall over and other eventsoccurring within the reactor. A reactor for the deposition ofpolycrystalline silicon, comprising, as reactor components, a baseplate, a reactor shell arranged on the base plate, at least one conduitfor gas supply, at least one conduit for gas removal, and electrodeholders for at least one heatable support body, and at least onemeasurement device for determining vibrations of the reactor, themeasurement device mounted on one or more of the reactor components. 2.The reactor of claim 1, wherein the measurement device comprises anacceleration sensor and/or a microphone.
 3. The reactor of claim 1,wherein the measurement device further comprises a recording system. 4.The reactor of claim 1, wherein the measurement device is coupled to aprocess control station for controlling the reactor.